Washing machine

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a washing machine that includes an integrated tub/drum configured to store washing water, hold or accommodate laundry, and rotate. A water drain guide and/or groove, which guides residual water in the integrated tub/drum toward a discharge region of the integrated tub/drum when the laundry is spin-dried, is in or on an inner circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0159168, filed on Dec. 19, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine including an integral tub configured to hold or store washing water and drum configured to accommodate and rotate laundry.

BACKGROUND

A washing machine refers to an apparatus which eliminates foreign substances on or in laundry by agitating and rotating water together with the laundry. Washing machines may be classified into a pulsator type washing machine which washes the laundry using a water flow generated by a pulsator in the washing tub, and a drum type washing machine that washes laundry by dropping the laundry vertically, which is caused by a rotation of a drum.

The drum type washing machine has a door at a front side of the drum type washing machine so as to put the laundry through the door. The drum type washing machine drops and washes the laundry, and uses relatively small amounts of washing water and detergent. Specifically, a drum type washing machine in the related art includes a cabinet that forms an external appearance, a tub in the cabinet that holds or stores washing water, a rotatable drum in the tub that holds or accommodates laundry, a drive motor installed at or near the tub that provides power to the drum, a water supply device that supplies water to the tub, and a water drain device that discharges water from the tub to the outside of the cabinet after a washing operation ends.

According to the drum type washing machine in the related art, when the laundry is washed, the laundry is put into the tub in a lateral direction by opening a door at the front of the drum type washing machine, washing water is supplied to the tub, and then the laundry is washed while a lifter in the drum lifts up and drops the laundry as the drum rotates by power from the drive motor.

As such, the drum type washing machine in the related art includes the tub in addition to the drum. That is, the drum type washing machine in the related art has a structure that includes the tub to store washing water, and the drum in the tub that washes the laundry.

However, because the tub is typically made of a plastic material, the tub may be easily contaminated by water scale, mold, mildew or other foreign substances when the tub is used over a long period of time. In addition, there is a problem in that it is difficult to clean the tub when the tub is contaminated because of the drum. When the tub is contaminated, the tub becomes corroded and the laundry becomes contaminated, which may cause skin irritation or a skin disease.

This problem may exist in the pulsator type washing machine as well as the drum type washing machine. The reason is that the pulsator type washing machine also includes a reservoir (or tub) in a main body thereof.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a washing machine that has an integrated tub/drum, thereby suppressing the generation of contaminants and allowing the integrated tub/drum to be easily cleaned.

The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a washing machine that may effectively drain washing water in an integrated tub/drum.

One or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a washing machine including an integrated tub/drum that simultaneously stores washing water, holds or accommodates laundry, and rotates. A water drain guide and/or groove that guides residual water in the integrated tub/drum to facilitate discharge of the residual water when the laundry is spin-dried, may be in or on an inner circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum.

The integrated tub/drum may have a truncated conical shape in which first and second side or end surfaces that intersect a rotation axis (e.g., of the integrated tub/drum) and have different areas. The water drain guide and/or groove may be in a direction traversing a region between one side or end surface of the integrated tub/drum that has a relatively large area (e.g., the first side or end) and another side or end surface that has a relatively small area (e.g., the second side or end).

The water drain guide and/or groove may have a rectilinear shape.

The water drain guide and/or groove may have a spiral or curved shape that may be in a direction in which the integrated tub/drum rotates.

The washing machine may further include a hollow rotary shaft coupled to and/or penetrating one surface (e.g., a first vertical end or side) of the integrated tub/drum that has a relatively large area; one or more water pipes that are in the integrated tub/drum and through a hollow space of the hollow rotary shaft; and a supporting frame that rotatably supports the hollow rotary shaft.

The water pipe(s) may include a water drain pipe. The water drain pipe may be bent downward in the integrated tub/drum, and extend through the hollow rotary shaft.

The water pipe(s) may further include a water supply pipe. The water supply pipe may be bent upward, or leftward or rightward in the integrated tub/drum, and extend through the hollow rotary shaft.

The washing machine may further include a drive shaft that is coupled to another surface (e.g., a second vertical end or side) of the integrated tub/drum; and a drive motor that rotates the drive shaft. The drive shaft may be hollow, and the washing machine may further include a water supply pipe that is in the integrated tub/drum and through a hollow space of the drive shaft.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the washing machine uses the integrated tub/drum, thereby suppressing the generation of contaminants and allowing the integrated tub/drum to be easily cleaned.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the washing machine may effectively drain washing water in the integrated tub/drum.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary washing machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an exemplary integrated tub/drum.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view that enlarges and illustrates part of the exemplary water drain guide and/or grooves of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an exemplary integrated tub/drum according to a modified example of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary hollow rotary shaft.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a washing machine according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains may carry out the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The present disclosure may be implemented in various different forms, and is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.

In several exemplary embodiments, constituent elements having the same configuration will be representatively described using the same reference numerals, and additional exemplary embodiments will be described with regard to those constituent elements that are different from the constituent elements described in other exemplary embodiment(s).

The drawings are schematically illustrated, and the scales of the drawings are not necessarily identical to each other. Relative dimensions and ratios of the parts illustrated in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced in terms of sizes thereof for clarification of the drawings and convenience, and any dimension is only illustrative, and is not limited thereto. The same structures, elements or components illustrated in two or more drawings are designated by the same reference numerals so as to illustrate the same or similar features.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are specifically presented as ideal embodiments of the present disclosure. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are expected. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to specific forms illustrated in the drawings, and for example, include modifications of forms by manufacturing.

Hereinafter, a washing machine 101 according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing machine 101 according to the one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure includes a integrated tub/drum 200.

The washing machine 101 according to the one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may further include a hollow rotary shaft 410, one or more water pipes 600, and a supporting frame 500.

The washing machine 101 according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may further include a supporting bearing 508, a drive bearing 509, a drive shaft 420, and/or a drive motor 300.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the washing machine 101 according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may further include a fixed shaft 415, a rotary bearing 418, a water seal 218, and/or a shaft fixing portion 545.

Although not illustrated, the washing machine 101 according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may further include a cabinet, and a water supply and/or drain pump.

The cabinet forms an external shape, appearance and/or structure of the washing machine 101, and a control panel for controlling the washing machine 101 may be on and/or in the cabinet. Because the cabinet may have various shapes and/or forms that are known to those skilled in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The water supply and drain pump supplies or drains washing water through a water supply pipe 610 or a water drain pipe 620. Because the water supply and drain pump used in the washing machine 101 may be known to those skilled in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The integrated tub/drum 200 may simultaneously store or hold washing water, hold or accommodate laundry W, and rotate. The integrated tub/drum 200 may comprise or be made of stainless steel. That is, according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the integrated tub/drum 200 that holds or stores washing water is not easily contaminated by water scale, mold, mildew or other foreign substances, and may be easily cleaned when contaminated.

In one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the integrated tub/drum 200 has a truncated conical shape having opposed vertical side or end surfaces that intersect a rotation axis (e.g., a central rotation axis of the integrated tub/drum 200) and have different areas. The integrated tub/drum 200 may include an opening 209 in one region of a circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum 200. The laundry W may be put into the integrated tub/drum 200, and the laundry W in the integrated tub/drum 200 may be taken out of the integrated tub/drum 200, through the opening 209.

The washing machine according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may further include a drum cover 290 that is separably or removably coupled to the opening 209 of the integrated tub/drum 200. The drum cover 290 is removed or separated from the integrated tub/drum 200 when the laundry W is put into or taken out of the integrated tub/drum 200, and coupled or secured to the integrated tub/drum 200 to water-tightly close the opening 209 when the laundry is washed.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, water drain guide and/or grooves 216 that guide residual water towards a discharge region of the integrated tub/drum 200 when the laundry W is spin-dried are on or in an inner circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum 200. In this case, the water drain guide and/or grooves 216 are oriented in or along a direction or region between one side or end surface of the integrated tub/drum 200 that has a relatively large area (e.g., opposite end panel 210) and another (e.g., opposite) side or end surface of the integrated tub/drum 200 that has a relatively small area (e.g., end panel 210).

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the water drain guide and/or grooves 216 may have a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear shape. Water flows along the water drain guide and/or grooves 216.

However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified example of one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 5, water drain guide and/or grooves 217 may have a spiral and/or curved shape that curves in or along a direction in which the integrated tub/drum 200 rotates. Accordingly, the residual water may be more effectively collected when the laundry W is spin-dried while the integrated tub/drum 200 rotates.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the hollow rotary shaft 410 is coupled to and/or penetrates one surface of the integrated tub/drum 200. A hollow space of the hollow rotary shaft 410 communicates with the interior of the integrated tub/drum 200. Particularly, in exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure, the hollow rotary shaft 410 is coupled to and/or penetrates the surface (e.g., vertical end or side panel) of the integrated tub/drum 200 that has a relatively large area.

The supporting frame 500 supports the hollow rotary shaft 410 so that the hollow rotary shaft 410 is rotatable. The supporting frame 500 may be in or coupled to the cabinet (not illustrated). The supporting frame 500 may have any of a variety of shapes that intersect in an “X” or “V” shape, and the hollow rotary shaft 410 may be supported at the intersection.

However, the exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the supporting frame 500 may have various other structures that may be modified and/or that may carried out by those skilled in the art based on known technology. For example, the frame 500 may have a V, inverted V, or triangle shape (with the hollow rotary shaft 410 at the point of the V or triangle), or other shape or form that supports the tub 200 and rotary shaft 410.

The water pipe(s) 600 are inserted into the integrated tub/drum 200 through the hollow space of the hollow rotary shaft 410.

In exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure, the water pipe(s) 600 may include a water supply pipe 610 and a water drain pipe 620.

Both the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe 620 are inserted into the integrated tub/drum 200 through the hollow rotary shaft 410. The water supply pipe 610 supplies water to the interior of the integrated tub/drum 200, and the water drain pipe 620 discharges water from the interior of the integrated tub/drum 200. The water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe 620 are generally fixed in place, and do not rotate.

In exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure, the water drain pipe 620 may be inserted into the integrated tub/drum 200 through the hollow rotary shaft 410, and be bent downward.

The hollow rotary shaft 410 may be coupled to and/or penetrate the surface of the integrated tub/drum 200 that has a relatively large area, and thus the water drain pipe 620 that is bent downward may also be adjacent to the one surface of the integrated tub/drum 200 that has a relatively large area.

By a gradient in the integrated tub/drum 200 having a truncated conical shape, and by the water drain guide and/or grooves 216 in or on the inner circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum 200, the washing water collects at the surface (e.g., vertical end or side panel) of the integrated tub/drum 200 that has a relatively large area.

Accordingly, the water drain pipe 620 may effectively drain the washing water that collects in the region toward, near or adjacent to the large end of the integrated tub/drum 200.

In exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure, the water supply pipe 610 may be inserted into the integrated tub/drum 200 through the hollow rotary shaft 410, and be bent upward and/or leftward or rightward. FIG. 6 illustrates a water supply pipe 610 that is bent upward, but exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and the water supply pipe 610 may be bent leftward or rightward, or at an angle between 9:00 and 3:00 from a perspective facing the inner surface of the large vertical end or side panel, or may not be bent at all.

The fixed shaft 415 is in the hollow space of the hollow rotary shaft 410 and does not rotate. The fixed shaft 415 supports the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe 620 in the hollow rotary shaft 410. That is, even when the hollow rotary shaft 410 rotates, the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe 620 in the fixed shaft 415 do not rotate.

One end of the fixed shaft 415 extends or protrudes outside of the hollow rotary shaft 410 (e.g., awy from the end panel or wall of the integrated tub/drum 200), and the shaft brace or frame (e.g., fixing portion) 545 connects the one end of the fixed shaft 415 to the supporting frame 500. That is, the shaft fixing portion 545 is coupled to the supporting frame 500 to support the fixed shaft 415 so that the fixed shaft 415 does not rotate in the hollow rotary shaft 410.

The rotary bearing 418 is between the hollow rotary shaft 410 and the fixed shaft 415 so that the hollow rotary shaft 410 and the fixed shaft 415 are slidable (e.g., freely rotatable) relative to each other. That is, the rotary bearing 418 enables the hollow rotary shaft 410 to rotate when the fixed shaft 415 is fixed in place. For example, the rotary bearing 418 may be or comprise a needle roller bearing.

The water seal (or gasket) 218 is between the hollow rotary shaft 410 and the fixed shaft 415 and is configured to block the water in the integrated tub/drum 200 from flowing into the rotary bearing 418 through an opening in the end of the hollow rotary shaft 200.

The supporting bearing 508 is between the hollow rotary shaft 410 and the supporting frame 500. The supporting bearing 508 helps the supporting frame 500 to support the hollow rotary shaft 410 so that the hollow rotary shaft 410 can rotate.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the drive shaft 420 is coupled to another surface, end or side panel or wall of the integrated tub/drum 200 (that is, the surface, end or side panel or wall that is opposite to the surface, end or side panel or wall to which the hollow rotary shaft 410 is coupled). The integrated tub/drum 200 rotates while being supported by the drive shaft 420 and the hollow rotary shaft 410.

Like the hollow rotary shaft 410, the drive shaft 420 is also supported by the supporting frame 500. The fixed shaft 420 may also be supported at the intersection of the supporting frame 500.

The drive bearing 509 is between the drive shaft 420 and the supporting frame 500. The drive bearing 509 helps the supporting frame 500 to support the drive shaft 420 so that the drive shaft 420 can rotate.

The drive motor 300 rotates the drive shaft 420, and provides rotational power to the integrated tub/drum 200.

In exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure, the drive motor 300 may be controlled (e.g., by a controller or other logic circuitry; not shown) to end or stop rotation of the integrated tub/drum 200 so that the opening 209 of the integrated tub/drum 200 is at an upper position (i.e., facing upwards) when the integrated tub/drum 200 is stopped and the laundry W is put into or taken out of the integrated tub/drum 200. That is, the drive motor 300 may move the opening 209 of the integrated tub/drum 200 to a position where the user conveniently puts the laundry W into the integrated tub/drum 200 or takes the laundry W out of the integrated tub/drum 200. Thus, the cabinet of the exemplary washing machine 101 may further include a hingeably attached cover or door on and/or in an uppermost surface or panel thereof, or in the upper half of a side surface, wall or panel thereof.

According to the aforementioned configuration, the integrated tub/drum 200 suppresses the generation of contaminants, and allows the integrated tub/drum 200 to be easily cleaned.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the washing machine 101 may effectively drain washing water from the integrated tub/drum 200.

Particularly, the washing water separated from the laundry W when the integrated tub/drum 200 rotates during a spin-drying process may be collected through the water drain guide and/or grooves 216, and then may be effectively drained through the water drain pipe 620.

Hereinafter, a washing machine 102 according to one or more other exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the washing machine 102 according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure includes a hollow drive shaft 420. That is, like the hollow rotary shaft 410, the drive shaft 420 that transmits rotational power from a drive motor 300 to the integrated tub/drum 200 is hollow.

An additional water pipe may be inserted into the integrated tub/drum 200 through a hollow space in the drive shaft 420. In this case, the additional water pipe may be a water supply pipe 610.

Meanwhile, in exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure, the water pipe inserted into the integrated tub/drum 200 through the hollow space of the hollow rotary shaft 410 may be a water drain pipe 620.

The principle that the additional water pipe (e.g., water supply pipe 610) is inserted into and supported by the drive shaft 420 is the same as the principle that water pipe(s) 600 are inserted into and supported by the hollow rotary shaft 410 in other exemplary embodiment(s).

The washing machine 102 according to exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure may further include a plurality of lifters 250 inside the integrated tub/drum 200.

The lifters 250 protrude or extend from an inner circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum 200 at a predetermined height toward the center of the integrated tub/drum 200. Accordingly, when the integrated tub/drum 200 rotates, the laundry W in the integrated tub/drum 200 is washed while being lifted up and dropped by the lifters 250 due to rotational force of the integrated tub/drum 200.

Meanwhile, the lifters 250 may also be inside the integrated tub/drum 200 of other exemplary embodiment(s).

According to the aforementioned configuration, the washing machine 102 according to exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure includes the integrated tub/drum 200, thereby suppressing the generation of contaminants and allowing the integrated tub/drum 200 to be easily cleaned.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the washing machine 102 may effectively supply water to the integrated tub/drum 200 and drain water from the integrated tub/drum 200.

Specifically, diameters of the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe 620 may be maximized and/or optimized using both the hollow space of the hollow rotary shaft 410 and the hollow space of the fixed shaft 420.

When both the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe 620 are inserted into the integrated tub/drum 200 through the single hollow rotary shaft 410, the diameter of the hollow rotary shaft 410 may be relatively large in order to allow sufficient water to flow through the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe 620.

However, according to other exemplary embodiments, the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe 620 are in the hollow rotary shaft 410 and the drive shaft 420, separate from each other, thereby effectively enabling an increase the diameters of the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe 620 and/or a decrease in the diameters of the hollow rotary shaft 410 and the drive shaft 420.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A washing machine comprising: an integrated tub/drum configured to store washing water, hold laundry, and rotate, and a water drain guide and/or groove in or on an inner circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum, configured to guide water in the integrated tub/drum to a discharge region of the integrated tub/drum.
 2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the integrated tub/drum has a truncated conical shape and first and second side or end surfaces that intersect a rotation axis and have different areas, and the water drain guide and/or groove has a direction traversing a region between one side or end surface of the integrated tub/drum having a relatively large area and another side or end surface having a relatively small area.
 3. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the water drain guide and/or groove has a rectilinear shape.
 4. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the water drain guide and/or groove has a spiral and/or curved shape.
 5. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the water drain guide and/or groove has a curve in a same direction in which the integrated tub/drum rotates.
 6. The washing machine of claim 1, comprising: a hollow rotary shaft coupled to and/or penetrating a surface of the integrated tub/drum; one or more water pipes in the integrated tub/drum and through the hollow rotary shaft; and a supporting frame that rotatably supports the hollow rotary shaft.
 7. The washing machine of claim 6, wherein the surface of the integrated tub/drum coupled to and/or penetrated by the hollow rotary shaft is a first end surface that has a larger area than a second end surface of the integrated tub/drum opposite to the first end surface.
 8. The washing machine of claim 6, wherein the one or more water pipes include a water drain pipe that is bent downward in the integrated tub/drum.
 9. The washing machine of claim 8, wherein the one or more water pipes further include a water supply pipe.
 10. The washing machine of claim 9, wherein the water supply pipe is bent upward, leftward or rightward.
 11. The washing machine of claim 7, further comprising: a drive shaft coupled to the second end surface of the integrated tub/drum; and a drive motor configured to rotate the drive shaft.
 12. The washing machine of claim 11, wherein the drive shaft is hollow, and the washing machine further includes a water supply pipe in the integrated tub/drum through the drive shaft.
 13. The washing machine of claim 6, wherein the one or more water pipes further include a water supply pipe.
 14. The washing machine of claim 2, comprising: a hollow rotary shaft coupled to and/or penetrating a first end surface of the integrated tub/drum; one or more water pipes through the hollow rotary shaft and extending into in the integrated tub/drum; and a supporting frame that rotatably supports the hollow rotary shaft.
 15. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the one or more water pipes include a water drain pipe that extends downward in the integrated tub/drum, and a water supply pipe that extends upward, left and/or right in the integrated tub/drum. 